Spine & Rehab Specialists - December 2020

Spine & Rehab Specialists - December 2020

DECEMBER 2020

6358 EDGEMERE BLVD. EL PASO, TEXAS 79925 915-562-8525

11855 PHYSICIANS DR. EL PASO, TEXAS 79936 915-855-6466

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE KOSTERS! WHERE SINTERKLAAS AND MENUDO MEET

My dad was an engineer, and he used cooking as a way to de-stress after a tough work day. Every Christmas Eve he went above and beyond to make two huge pots of menudo, a chili soup we just had to have for the holidays as a second-generation American family. My dad made authentic menudo with tripe, and his was always the best because he took time to clean all the fat out of the broth really thoroughly. He boiled the chili not once, but twice, skimming the fat in between. It was so good that he spoiled restaurant menudo for me completely — I have a hard time eating it if there’s any fat left! My mom worked in retail back then, so she took care of the gifts and getting me and my sisters dressed up for the holiday parties. We always took a trip to wherever she was working at the time and picked out two outfits: one for Christmas Eve and one for Christmas Day. Those nice sets of clothes were early presents, and then when it came time to open the presents under the tree, there would be a little something extra to match them, like a sweater or a fancy pair of shoes. More than the gifts or the food, though, what I remember the most about Christmas was how good it felt to spend days surrounded by my family. As a big group of cousins all the same age, we would all swap gossip about our different high schools and share stories about our activities like band and football.

Hey there, it’s Bonnie again! Can you believe it’s almost Christmas already? Last month, I told you all about my Hispanic family’s Thanksgiving traditions and how tough it was for Harry to adjust to them as a guy from the Netherlands. This month, I thought I’d double down and fill you in on how we celebrate Christmas! In last year’s December newsletter, Harry explained the Christmas traditions that his Dutch family had growing up, including the visit from Sinterklaas (their version of Santa Claus) by boat, sharing poems out loud with his family, and eating traditional pepernoten , speculaas , and taai taai cookies. It sounds like an entirely different world, doesn’t it? Hearing him talk about those memories when we were first married, I always got the impression that his Christmas traditions were simple and understated — which couldn’t be further from the explosion of food, family, and all-around chaos I grew up with during the holidays. My mom was one of nine kids and my dad was one of six, so our holiday parties were always BIG. When I was growing up, usually we spent Christmas Eve with my mom’s side of the family and Christmas Day with my dad’s side. Christmas was special for the presents, of course, but what I really looked forward to was the food — especially the tamales, the ham, and my father’s menudo.

We spent many years laughing and eating together. Unfortunately, when my dad’s mother — the matriarch of the family — passed away, those traditions changed and each individual family started doing their own gatherings. These days, Harry and I usually get together with friends or spend time with family. And Harry makes menudo, following my dad's recipe — probably the only Dutch guy to make menudo. As strange as this year will be with the pandemic, I’m looking forward to the warm, fuzzy feeling of Christmas! I hope you have a great one, and we’ll see you again soon! – Bonnie Koster

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WITH THESE 3 HOT WINTER DRINKS BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM LIKE A CELEBRITY

just add a few spoonfuls of the concoction to your hot water and you’ll have instant tea!

What do Jennifer Lawrence, Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie, Taylor Swift, and Khloé Kardashian have in common? Yes, they’re all high-profile celebrities, of course, but they’re also big fans of hot tea. According to the entertainment website Yaay, Angelina Jolie likes to make her own garlic tea by steeping fresh cloves in hot water, and Lady Gaga is such a big tea lover that she takes a tea set with her on tour. These famous women might be onto a health and beauty secret because aside from being delicious, tea is a great way to boost your immune system and fend off illnesses. Drinking hot tea, or another immune-boosting drink in place of hot chocolate, will still give you the cozy winter vibes you crave without compromising your health. An easy

Homemade chai tea is another delicious option that will wow you and your guests this winter. There are thousands of chai recipes out there, but MinimalistBaker.com offers a simple and tasty one that’s made with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, black tea, pepper, and dairy-free milk. If you don’t want to grind the spices yourself, you can buy a premade blend. Chai gives you all of the ginger benefits with the added bonus of cardamom, which is said to have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Last but not least, if you’re more of a latte drinker than a tea drinker, try golden milk ! This soothing drink is a darling of health food fanatics because it features honey (a disease- fighting powerhouse ingredient) and turmeric (an immune-booster that lowers cholesterol, combats arthritis, and helps prevent cancer). WellPlated. com offers a delicious recipe that pairs those two ingredients with almond milk, almond butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and ginger for a satisfying nightcap.

drink for beginners is lemon-ginger tea , which is a spin-off of Khloé Kardashian’s favorite drink. Ginger is a key ingredient here because it’s anti-inflammatory, raises the immune system, and may even help fight cancer. You can make lemon-ginger syrup by layering lemon slices, fresh ginger, and raw honey in a jar and letting it sit in the fridge overnight. The next morning,

What are you waiting for — get steeping!

PERFECT FIT

4 TIPS TO BUY THE

RIGHT SHOES FOR YOU

Buying the wrong shoes can have a profound impact on your feet, ankles, knees, hips, and lower back. If you don’t get the right support, it can affect the health of several areas throughout your legs. Adversely, buying good shoes can help you maintain better health through these same areas. It just comes down to finding the “right” shoes. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to shoe-buying because everyone has unique feet and shoe needs. It’s not as easy as just stopping by the shoe store, finding a pair you like, and calling it a day. You need shoes for specific activities that give you ample support and comfort. Here are four steps you can take on your journey to find that perfect fit. Consult your PT. Your physical therapist is a gait specialist. They understand walking and how your motor systems can work effectively and efficiently. They can tell you what you need to know before you buy a pair, and they can work with you to get the most out of those shoes. Consult a shoe expert. If there is one reason to visit a brick-and- mortar sporting or shoe store, it’s to consult with a shoe expert. You want to work with someone who will actually help you find the right shoes and isn’t just interested in making a quick sale.

Take your time. It’s okay if you don’t immediately find the right shoes. You may have to visit more than one store before you find the ideal pair. You may be tempted to buy a pair of off-the-shelf orthotics in order to call it a day, but even that can be problematic. Consider custom orthotics. Buyer beware: There are a lot of bad orthotics out there. Once again, consult with your PT to determine your best next steps when it comes to shoe orthotics. You don’t want to spend money on something that won’t help in the short term and long term. Your PT can help ensure you’re getting the proper foot and complete leg support you need.

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HOLIDAY HACKS FOR THE BUSY PROFESSIONAL 4 TIPS FOR A LESS EXHAUSTING HOLIDAY SEASON

immediate family and work your way out. Give everyone a task: Someone does the grocery shopping. Someone is in charge of a main course dish. Another is on side-dish duty. Others get dessert. Don't forget to assign a clean- up crew. Save yourself for the tasks you REALLY want to do. Take frequent breaks. When you have a lot going on, frequent 5–10 minute minibreaks can go a long way in easing the mental pressure. Don’t hesitate to take brain breaks throughout the day. Go for a quick walk around the building or neighborhood. Read a chapter of your book. Play a quick game on your phone. Say no to the kitchen. When your time is precious, why spend a lot of time in the kitchen? While some find cooking a joy, others find it burdensome. If you’re in the latter group, it’s okay to go the boxed or prepared meal route when time is short. Boxed meals can still be

The holidays are an incredibly busy time of year. Between work and home, it can feel like there isn’t enough daylight to get everything done. We have projects to complete, emails to answer, dinners to plan, gifts to buy — and family is coming in from out of town. Is it possible to take care of everything and not be completely exhausted by the end of it? While we can’t answer that definitively, we can share a few “holiday hacks” to help you get more out of your time. Put work aside. Give yourself blocks of time to focus on one thing at a time. You may be tempted to multitask, but for your mental health, don’t do it. Focusing on one thing at a time produces better results (this applies equally to cooking as it does to client work) and you’ll feel better through the process. Delegate — at home! You delegate assignments at work, so why not do the same at home? Start with your

prepared with love, and you can get high-quality frozen dishes or freshly prepared meals from your favorite grocery store. The time and energy you save is worth the investment. In 2020, we have more options than ever to make life easier. So, enjoy the holidays a little more by doing the things you love and using these tips to make the most of your time and energy this season.

SIMPLE VEGAN CAESAR

TAKE A BREAK!

DRESSING Inspired by MinimalistBaker.com

Nothing pulls together a salad quite like a delicious Caesar dressing. This easy vegan recipe takes just five minutes to make and keeps for 5–7 days in the fridge.

• 1/4 cup hummus INGREDIENTS

• 2 tsp capers, minced

• 3 tsp caper brining juice

• 5 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp spicy mustard

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• Hot water, as needed

• 1/2 tsp lemon zest

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small bowl, add all ingredients and whisk to combine. 2. If needed, add a bit of hot water to thin the dressing until it will pour. 3. Serve with salad or refrigerate for later!

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

915-562-8525 | www.SpineRehab.net 6358 Edgemere Blvd. El Paso, Texas 79925

1. COVER TITLE 1. MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE KOSTERS 2. HOW TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM LIKE A CELEBRITY SHOE SHOPPING? HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 3. WANT TO MAKE YOUR HOLIDAYS A LITTLE EASIER? SIMPLE VEGAN CAESAR DRESSING 4. HOW ‘PREHABILITATION’ HELPS IN SURGERY RECOVERY INSIDE THIS ISSUE

PHYSICAL THERAPY BEFORE SURGERY? WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE ‘PREHABILITATION’ A PART OF YOUR RECOVERY

like swelling and muscular atrophy. This can also help shorten your hospital stay and decrease the time you spend doing post-surgery rehab. During prehab, our physical therapists can help you prepare to do daily activities post-surgery, such as maneuvering out of bed, using the toilet, walking down stairs, and using crutches. Since your PT will know your current range of motion, they can also help you create goals to get back to it during your recovery. The recovery process can be tedious and frustrating, so it’s helpful to have some goals in mind. Doing so will help you track your progress and stay motivated in your recovery. It should also be noted that, while not incredibly common, sometimes prehab can be so effective that it eliminates the need for surgery altogether. As physical therapists, it’s our goal to help our

Physical therapy has become a common part of most post-surgery rehabilitation routines. However, did you know that going through physical therapy prior to your surgery can benefit your recovery process as well? Strange as it might sound, strengthening your muscles and joints before surgery — after which they’ll most certainly be weaker — can ensure that you recover faster. This is called “prehabilitation,” or prehab, and it’s a great way to help you get back to doing what you love after an operation. In general, the healthier you are going into a surgery, the better poised you will be to have a speedy recovery. When you visit our office for prehab appointments, one of our physical therapists can walk you through a series of stretches and exercises focused on strengthening the body part prior to surgery. Prehab exercises benefit your overall health and help reduce post-surgery symptoms,

patients get back to doing what they love by any noninvasive means possible. Sometimes surgery is necessary, and that’s okay — but if you could recover without surgery, wouldn’t you try? In order to get the most out of your prehabilitation routine, most health experts recommend starting prehab appointments with a physical therapist at least six weeks before your scheduled surgery. However, starting a prehab routine even two weeks before your surgery can benefit you in recovery. While prehab is beneficial, it’s important to know that not every insurance program will cover it. So, check with your insurance provider before you start. Nevertheless, the benefits of prehabilitation make it an option worth seriously considering.

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